Shoe-straightener.



A. R. GREEN.

SHOE STRAIGHTENEB.

APPLICATION FILLED JULY-1, 1910.

Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

FIG.5.

FIG/1'.

A. R. GREEN.

SHOE STRAIGHTENER.

IAPPLIOATION FILED JULY 1, 1910.

978,286, Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mam W ALFRED RAYNE GREEN, 0F LEEDS, ENGLAND.

SI-IOE-STRAIGHTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 13, 1910.

Application filed July 1, 1910. Serial No. 569,884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,A1.rnnn Rarxn GREEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Leeds, in the county of Yorkshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Straighteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Boot and the like foot coverings after being worn a little time have a tendency to lose their shape by the toes developing an upward curve as a result of the bending to which the sole in particular, is subjected by the bending of the foot of the wearer in walking, such curvin of the boot or the like entirely spoiling its appearance.

Boot trees so generally used, while pressing out and shaping the body of the boot or i the like, do not straighten the boot, which consequently retains its ugly appearance, even after being on a boot tree for a considerable time.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple device in which the toe part of the boot or the like is held down ona base portion by means of a clip or projection, and the heel or back part is pressed down by a rod carried by a bridge portion of the base, or a frame, upright or the like on the base, in or by which bridge or the like it can be secured to exert pressure on the inside of the heel portion of the boot, and so effectively straighten the most shapeless boot or the like and impart a shapely appearance to it.

In order that my invention may be readily understood, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying two sheets of explanatory drawings which show by way of example only, some modes of carrying my invention into effect, and on which Figure 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 an end view and Fig. 3 a plan view of a boot tree or straightener constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 4 is a side view and Fig. 5 a front view of the device showing the bridge or frame extending longitudinally of the base in place of across the same, Fig. 6 is a side view and Fig. 7 a front view of the device showing the pressure rod actuated by a lever, Fig. 8 is a side view showing the pressure rod mounted in a single hinged or pivoted support in place of in a bridge or frame, and Fig. 9 is a side view showing the base composed of two portions so as to be capable of adjustment.

In carrying my invention into effect, I employ a suitable strong base plate or part A which is provided with a spring or other clip, or a projection or the like B for engaging the front of the toe part of the sole of the boot or the like C, and with a bridge piece or frame, or upright or the like D in which is loosely mounted an adjustable pressure rod E to pass into the back or heel portion of the boot or the like C to force the said back or heel portion down on the base plate or part A, and when such pressure rod is secured, to hold it thereon; a. suitable means for securing the pressure rod E to hold the heel portion of the boot on the base plate or part A, consisting in providing the bridge, frame or upright D with an enlargement or boss D in which is a hole for the pressure rod to work in, and with a screw threaded hole to receive a thumb screw or the like F to nip the said pressure rod and hold it in the position in which it is set.

hen the pressure rod E is mounted in a bridge piece or frame I) which spans the base transversely as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9 of the drawings, the bottom ends of such bridge piece or frame are preferably pivoted to the sides of the base A so as to allow of such bridge piece or frame being folded over outwardly away from the base part A and inwardly over such base part, as shown at Fig. 3, the full lines I) representing the bridge or frame folded outwardly to enable a boot or the like to be readily placed on the base part, and the dotted lines D representing it. folded inwardly so that the tree or straightener will occupy only a small space when not in use.

\Vhcn the pressure rod is mounted in a single upright or support D as shown at Fig. 8 of the drawings, the base part may be provided with brackets G each having two holes II' and J, the bottom of the support being flattened and having two holes in it to correspond and register with the holes H, J in the brackets G.

The flattened bottom end of the support D fits in the space between the two brackets G and a pivot pin K is passed through the holes H, say for instance, in the brackets G and through the corresponding hole in the bottom of the support D, which allows of such support being turned over outwardly and inwardly on its pivot K; when it is required to secure the support- D in its vertical position, a split pin or the like L is passed into the otherholes J, for instance, in the brackets Gand through the corresponding hole in the bottom of the support.

When the bridge or frame D spans the base longitudinally, as shown at Figs. 4: and '5 of the drawings, the clip or projection B may be mounted on a screw threaded stud M which passes through a vertical slot D in the front of the bridge or frame, the portion of the stud which passes through the slot being preferably square to prevent turning of the stud and consequently of the clip or projection B. i

The clip or projection can be set to suit the thickness of the toe of the boot sole by moving the stud M up or down in the slot D and then nipping it into contact with the inside face ofthe front of the frame by screwing the wing nut or the like A 2 on the threaded end of the stud M.

For the purpose of imparting rigidity to the bridge piece or frame D when in .use, when such bridge or frame is pivoted, I connect it by means of a detachable stay rod, or rods running to the front, or to the side or sides of the base part A, a suitable arrangement for the purpose consisting in hooking a rod D to the front of the base part A and connecting it by a thumb screw D to the top of the bridge piece or frame D, as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1.

The base part may be made adjustable by making it in two pieces A, A one or both pieces having a slot A in it, the two pieces being secured together by means of a threaded stud A passed through the slot A (or slots) by screwing a wing nut or the like A on the stud A The pressure .rod E for pressing down the back or heel part of the boot or the hke may be forced down by hand, said rod being v shown in certain of the figures provided with in them, between which uprights the outer end of the lever N passes when pressed or drawn down, and such lever is secured by a of the boot or the like by a clip or projection on a base piece engaging the toe portion of the sole of the boot or the like, and the foreing down of the back or heel portion by a pressure rod suitably mounted and capable of being set to exert pressure on the back or heel portion of the boot or the like inside by any means suitable for the purpose, and I would have it understood that I do not limit. myself to the modes of carrying my invention into effect hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as such modes are shown and described by way of example only.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is j 1. In a shoe straightener, the combination, with a base for the shoe sole to rest on, of a projection secured to the base and adapted to engage with the toe portion of the shoe sole, an upright secured to the base and projecting above the shoe, and a. pressure rod connected tothe upper part of the upright and adapted to bear downwardly on the shoe heel inside the shoe.

2. In a shoe straightener, the combination, with a base for the shoe sole to rest on, of a projection secured to the base and adapted to engage with the toe portion of the shoe, a foldable upright pivotally connected to the base and adapted to project above the shoe,

and a pressure rod connected to the upper part of the upright and adapted to bear downwardly on the shoe heel inside the shoe.

3. In a shoe straightener, the combination, with a base for the shoe sole to rest on, of a projection secured to the base'and adapted to engage with the toe portion of the shoe sole, an upright secured to the base and projecting above the shoe, a pressure rod slidable vertically in the upper part of the upright, and means for securing the said rod to the upright.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED RAYNE GREEN.

Witnesses WILLIAM Rnnvns, CHARLES E. TAYLOR. 

